Category: kesq-local-news

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Variety will honor its “10 Directors to Watch” during a brunch event at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Sunday, January 4.

According to Variety, this year’s list features a dynamic mix of emerging American and international directors, including artists with films headed to major festivals in 2026, two filmmakers with titles submitted for the Oscar international feature category, and three breakout debuts from Cannes — including Kristen Stewart’s first feature behind the camera, The Chronology of Water.

The 10 Directors to Watch honorees are:

Akinola Davies Jr. (My Father’s Shadow)

Beth de Araujo (Josephine)

Jan-Ole Gerster (Islands)

Sarah Goher (Happy Birthday)

Dave Green (Coyote vs. Acme)

Chandler Levack (Mile End Kicks)

Harry Lighton (Pillion)

NB Mager (Run Amok)

Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water)

Walter Thompson Hernandez (If I Go Will They Miss Me)

Of the announcement, Artistic Director Lili Rodriguez said:

“Discovery is such an important part of what we do at film festivals, and partnering with Variety on 10 Directors to Watch is an especially exciting part of PSIFF. It’s always a thrill to encounter the filmmakers that make the list, which has an incredible track record, and we’re glad to be the stage to celebrate these artists.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of the Palm Springs Film Festival.

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Indio Police Department says it’s now using a program called “RapidSOS” for non-emergency calls for service. They say it is an advanced tool to help generate calls. 

When you contact Indio PD at (442) 300-3104 the “RapidSOS” program captures “key information in real time, reducing any wait times,” according to a social media post from the department. They said this is number is to be used instead of dialing the non-emergency number. They believe it will help Indio PD get residents assistance faster. 

Indio said every call is still monitored by a live dispatcher for accuracy and immediate intervention when needed. During the call, certain key words automatically alert dispatch for priority action and “this means quicker, more efficient service for our community.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from officials about the new system and how it will help residents.

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María García

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) — Aziz Farms receives a grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture for a new education center.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday morning to mark this milestone.

Now entering its fourth year, the program continues to educate students through immersive, hands-on field trips, this time with the addition of a brand-new learning center. During their visit, kids explore a wide range of topics, from how dates are cultivated to the principles behind growing crops sustainably.

“The fact that we can get students out to our farm, we can educate them about where their food comes from, and then they can see our fruits and vegetables in their school meals, It just deepens their understanding of how that system works,” said Nicole Tadros, co-founder of Aziz Farms.

School districts from across Southern California, including Desert Sands Unified, Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, and Los Angeles Unified were in attendance.

For more information on how schools can attend field trips at the farm, click here.

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KESQ News Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs High School hosted its 3rd annual “Giving Thanks to the World” on Thursday.

Students conducted research on countries and cultures, including their own, culminating in a celebration of cultural diversity showcasing the rich tapestry, traditions and languages of countries and cultures.

The event allowed students and school staff to come together and express gratitude to the world, being immersed in a multicultural experience that celebrated unity through diversity. Students received passports to get stamped after learning about new countries.

The event was led by the PSHS World Language Department to give students the opportunity to learn about other cultures.

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Cynthia White

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A months-long investigation into a juvenile found with a marijuana/THC vape pen has led to the arrest of an Indio man who is facing multiple charges of child sexual assault, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

The case began on September 19, 2025, when a School Resource Deputy from the Thermal Sheriff’s Station began an investigation of a juvenile in possession of a THC vape pen. During the investigation, deputies learned the juvenile had received the vape pen from an adult male she met through social media. Further investigation revealed evidence that the man had engaged in sexual relations with the juvenile victim, authorities said.

Deputies later identified the male suspect as Francisco Silva Serna Jr., 28, of Indio.

On December 3, 2025, members of the Thermal Sheriff’s Station Special Enforcement Team and Business District Team located Silva Serna Jr. near Highway 111 and Monroe Street in Indio. He was taken into custody without incident.

Francisco Silva Serna Jr.

Deputies then responded to a residence in the 46000 block of Monte Vista Drive, near Madison Street and Avenue 46 in Indio, and served a search warrant related to the investigation.

Silva Serna Jr. was later transported and booked at the John Benoit Detention Center, facing charges including sexual intercourse with a minor, oral copulation of a minor, and additional child sexual assault-related offenses. He is being held on $1 million bail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is ongoing, and no further details are being released at this time.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Deputy Luis Olivares at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station at (760) 863–8990. Information can also be reported anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP (7867).

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Shay Lawson

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)  – With e-bikes topping many kids’ holiday wish lists this year, local law enforcement and prosecutors are issuing warnings to parents about safety requirements, legal responsibilities and the growing number of serious crashes involving young riders.

E-bikes are defined under California law as bicycles equipped with operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.

Although they’re not classified as motorized vehicles, officials said riders must obey the same traffic laws as cars — including stopping at red lights, using bike lanes when available and riding with the flow of traffic.

Deputy Sheriff Paul Abrego with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said many parents don’t realize how fast these bikes can go.

“With throttle and pedal assistance comes speed.” Abrego said. “When you have speeds of 20 to 28 miles per hour and you get into an accident, there’s a high probability you’re going to get a head injury.”

According to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, at least 36 juvenile-related e-bike incidents have been reported so far in 2025, involving 45 minors.

Prosecutors said they are reviewing case law to determine when criminal liability may apply to parents who provide minors with e-bikes but fail to ensure proper safety measures.

Under California Penal Code 273a(a), parents can be criminally liable for child endangerment if they allow a minor to ride an inappropriate e-bike, don’t teach safe operation or fail to require proper protective gear.

“Our office’s greatest concern is that a child could cause serious injury, or even death, to themselves or others due to reckless e-bike use,” Assistant District Attorney Mike Cabral said in a statement.

Abrego said parents should know the different classes of e-bikes before buying one:

Class
Motor Assist
Top Speed
Throttle?

Class 1
Pedal assist
20 mph
No

Class 2
Pedal assist + throttle
20 mph
Yes

Class 3
Pedal assist
28 mph
No

Abrego said parents must make sure any bike they buy is clearly labeled with its class, wattage and maximum speed.

California requires e-bikes to be 750 watts or less.

Abrego said to invest in a multidirectional impact protection system (MIPS) certified helmet.

“It protects your head from brain injuries or concussion,” Abrego said.

The sheriff’s department in Palm Desert will begin offering more e-bike safety courses after the holidays.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Kendall Flynn

EAST VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley is gearing up for holiday celebrations this weekend in Indio and Coachella. While city officials are ready for Indio’s tree lighting and the Coachella Enchanted Parade with Elf and Friends, they want to make sure residents know the are safe.

This comes after many events throughout the Valley were canceled or postponed due to low participations for fear of immigration enforcement. Now officials say they don’t believe participation is a concern.

“We haven’t seen a drop in participation at any of our events. In fact, we have seen an increase in numbers,” Sergeant Abe Plata, the Indio Police Department PIO, said. “Our events keep getting better every year.”

“If last night’s tree lighting is any indication of attendance, we expect it to be a pretty full house…our Sixth Street was full,” Risseth Lora, the PIO for the City of Coachella said. “I think everybody is ready to really, embrace the holiday season and and kind of get into the fun side of things.” 

It’s an increase in participants they believe is due to the holiday season and growing trust in law enforcement in the East Valley.

“Maybe even if it’s just for the moment, but…just the joy of the season that I think overrides maybe any trepidation that people may have,” Lora said.

“Our community has a lot of trust in our police department,” Plata said. “We have a wonderful relationship with our community, and they continue to trust in us.”

Indio and Coachella said they will have police and city staff onsite for an residents who have concerns.

For more information on Indio’s tree lighting ceremony visit www.indio.org

For more information on Coachella’ holiday parade visit www.coachella.org

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear more from officials on East Valley holiday celebrations.

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Jesus Reyes

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – A 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a burglary in Thousand Palms on Wednesday night.

The arrest came after a burglary in progress was reported on the 72000 block of Ramon Road at around 8:45 p.m.

Deputies arrived at the location and found the suspect, a Cathedral City resident, who was taken into custody without incident.

The suspect faces charges of burglary and possession of narcotics and a loaded firearm. He was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Paull of the Palm Desert Station by calling (760)- 836-1600.

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Garrett Hottle

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) Hospitals across the Coachella Valley are adopting new forms of artificial intelligence to speed up diagnoses, reduce wait times, and catch serious conditions earlier according to officials at Desert Oasis Healthcare and Eisenhower Health.

Desert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC) is deploying AI inside remote patient monitoring devices, allowing clinicians to receive alerts the moment a patient’s readings fall into a dangerous range. 

The monitors, which include glucometers and blood pressure cuffs, automatically transmit data back to care teams in real time.

“You take a reading and it notifies us right away of that reading,” DOHC’s Associate Director of Technology, Thomas Brezeal. “Now, if it’s good, normal, within range, wonderful. However, if your blood sugars are way high or way low, then that notifies us right away and says we need to call that patient right now.”

Brezeal said the faster notifications have helped prevent hospitalizations by allowing staff to intervene earlier.

DOHC has also added an AI overlay to its breast cancer screening process. The system analyzes medical images to identify potential abnormalities that may require follow up review.

“It’s an AI overlay that analyzes the images for breast cancer screening to see, are we potentially missing something?” Brezeal explained. “Are we making this as accurate as possible so we can catch that breast cancer as soon as possible?”

At Eisenhower Health, AI is being used in the emergency department to assess advanced imaging scans as soon as they are taken. Ken Buechele, Eisenhower’s vice president and chief information officer, said the tool flags potentially serious conditions in real time so clinicians can respond immediately.

“When a patient comes into an emergency room, they get an advanced imaging scan,” Buechele said. “AI will then process that scan in real time and notify the clinician.”

Eisenhower has also launched a virtual assistant program for cancer patients, which helps manage communication and care coordination throughout their treatment.

“It frees up our nurses and our care team to focus on the patients who need that help,” Buechele said. “It also allows us to better keep in touch with those patients and then escalate those care needs.”

Both hospital systems emphasized that AI is used as a support tool, not a replacement for medical decision-making. Providers remain involved at every step of the process.

Hospital officials said they expect AI to expand into more personalized care planning in the coming years as the technology continues to evolve.

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Athena Jreij

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A report from the California Department of Justice found Palm Springs leads Riverside County in hate crime incidents for 2024.

According to the report, Palm Springs recorded 10 incidents last year, with 34 in total for the entire county.

That’s nearly a third of all incidents, and reflects a trend also seen in 2023 where Palm Springs had 11 out of 35 recorded hate crimes in the county.

The 2024 report also found areas monitored by the Sheriff’s Department recorded 5 hate crimes, 1 in Banning, 1 in Cathedral City, 2 in Corona, 2 in Hemet, 1 in Jurupa Valley, 2 in Moreno Valley, 3 in Murrieta, 1 in Norco and 4 in Riverside. UC Riverside also recorded 2.

Among victims, Palm Springs also had the highest numbers with 16 hate crime victims.

In 2023, LGBTQ+ hate crimes were on the rise throughout the state. News Channel 3 found that pattern also continued, with incidents rising from 151 in 2023 to 172 in 2024.

Anti-gay male hate crimes also rose from 231 in 2023 to 251 in 2024 statewide.

Tonight, News Channel 3 is speaking with the Palm Springs Police Department on the measures they’re taking to keep numbers down.

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